Greg,
Thank you for the suggestions. I had seen the new vang sleeve/collar design
on one of Bram's boats last year at the regatta. I envision making the
collars without the carbon center sleeve, so that I can remove the pivot base
that
has the permanently bonded 1/4" SS pin. The separate collars will be held in
position on the mast each with self-retracting pins, like the one you show on
the Power Point. With two separate pins used to position the collars, making
on-the-water changes to the vang position on the mast will be difficult.
Alternatively, I can build the assembly with the center sleeve and collars
with the nylon bushings for the 1/4" pin. Then install and bond the pivot base
to the SS pin that is installed in the nylon bushings. The pin and pivot base
will not be removable from the collars. The entire assembly will be
positioned with one self-retracting pin.
Your idea of using the HMWPE to position the collar is a good one, but maybe
overkill for my fabrication abilities. Do you feel that one pin, used for
positioning the assembly on the mast, will be sufficient to hold the vang in
position on the mast, given the compression loads involved?
btw, I am taking my mast down to Forte in CT tomorrow for Plexus retro-fit of
the mast track.
Bill Scheumann
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